Light emitting diode based light source emitting collimated light

ABSTRACT

A light emitting diode, a reflector and a platform are employed within a light source. The light emitting diode emits light exclusively from its side surfaces. The reflector has a parabolic reflective surface that collimates any portion of the light reflecting from the parabolic reflective surface. The platform supports a centering of the light emitting layer(s) of the light emitting diode on a focus point of the parabolic reflective surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of light sources. More specifically, the present invention relates to a Light Emitting Diode (“LED”) based light source that is independently operative to emit a collimated light.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0002]FIG. 1 illustrates a known light source 10 having a LED 11 positioned on an electrical connector 12 to thereby emit light from its top surface and side surfaces as exemplified by the dashed arrows. The reflector 13 has a conical reflective surface serving the known function of reflecting the light emitted from the LED 11 in the direction of the conical reflective surface. A dome 14 serves the known function of focusing the light reflected from the conical reflective surface of the reflector 13 into an operational radiation pattern as the light leaves the dome 14. As illustrated, neither the reflector 13 nor the dome 14 collimates the light reflected from the conical reflective surface of the reflector 13. The light source 10 is therefore incapable of serving as an independent light source in devices requiring collimated light (e.g., a remote sensing device, a surface analysis device, etc.). Presently, a collimator (not shown in FIG. 1) is positioned relative to the dome 14 in an effort to collimate the light from light source 10. However, employment of a collimator with the light source 10 increases the manufacturing costs of devices incorporating one or more light sources 10. Moreover, operational specifications relating to the incorporation of the light source 10 within a device may make it impractical to employ a collimator with the light source 10.

[0003] The present invention advances the art by contributing a LED based light source that is independently operative to emit collimated light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A light source comprising a light emitting diode and a reflector having a parabolic reflective surface is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In operation, the light emitting diode emits light exclusively from one or more of its side surfaces, and the parabolic reflective surface collimates at least a portion of the light. Various designs of light emitting diodes and reflectors may be employed in the light source.

[0005] Various forms, features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting, the scope of the present invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a known light source;

[0007]FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a light source in accordance an embodiment of the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a LED usable in the light source of FIG. 2;

[0009]FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a LED usable in the light source of FIG. 2;

[0010]FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a third embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a LED usable in the light source of FIG. 2;

[0011]FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a fourth embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a LED usable in the light source of FIG. 2;

[0012]FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a fifth embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a LED usable in the light source of FIG. 2;

[0013]FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a sixth embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a LED usable in the light source of FIG. 2; and

[0014]FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of one operational embodiment of the light source of FIG. 2 encapsulated within a transmitting epoxy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0015]FIG. 2 illustrates a reflector 21 and a LED 22, which are the primary components of a light source in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The LED 22 emits light exclusively from one or more of its side surfaces as exemplified by the dashed arrows. The reflector 21 has a parabolic reflective surface 21 a composed of conventional material suitable for reflecting any portion of the light that contacts the parabolic reflective surface 21a (e.g., lead frame material with mirror finishing). The parabolic shape of the reflective surface 21 a collimates all of the reflected light. In one embodiment, the reflector 21 is a unitary piece and conventional techniques are employed to shape the parabolic reflective surface 21a, such as, for example, punching/etching, drilling, electro-discharge machining (EDM), sheer spinning, and molding+mirror coating. In an alternative embodiment, the reflector 21 consists of flat and/or curved reflective segments 21 a, and conventional techniques are employed to develop and refine the parabolic reflective surface 21 a, such as, for example, finite element analysis.

[0016] The focus point f associated with the parabolic reflective surface 21 a is dependent upon the aperture diameter D and the parabolic reflective surface depth d of the parabolic reflective surface 21 a in accordance with the following equation [1]: $\begin{matrix} {f = \frac{D^{2}}{16\quad d}} & \lbrack 1\rbrack \end{matrix}$

[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the LED 22 is positioned on a focus point platform 23 upwardly extending from a base of the parabolic reflective surface 21 a whereby the light emitting layer(s) of the LED 22 is(are) centered on the focus point f. For an embodiment of the LED 22 having a 250 μm thickness, a 4 mm aperture diameter D and a 2 mm parabolic reflective surface depth d have been found to facilitate a positioning of the LED 22 on the focus point platform 23 having a 0.5 mm height h whereby a substantial portion of the light emitting from the side surfaces of the LED 22 is collimated by the parabolic reflective surface 21 a.

[0018] Numerous embodiments of the LED 22 can be employed in a light source in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 3-8 illustrate six (6) embodiments of the LED 22.

[0019]FIG. 3 illustrates one of the embodiments of the LED 22, which includes a bottom light absorbing layer 22 a, a light emitting layer 22 b overlying the bottom light absorbing layer 22 a, and a top light absorbing layer 22 c overlying the light emitting layer 22 b. Due to the light absorbing nature of the light absorbing layers 22 a and 22 c, the illustrated LED emits light exclusively from the side surfaces of the light emitting layer 22 b as exemplified by the dashed arrows.

[0020]FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the LED 22, which includes a bottom light absorbing layer 22 d, a light reflecting layer 22 e overlying the bottom light absorbing layer 22 d, a light emitting layer 22 f overlying the light reflecting layer 22 e, and a top light absorbing layer 22 g overlying the light emitting layer 22 f. Due to the light absorbing nature of the light absorbing layers 22 d and 22 g and the light reflecting nature of the light reflecting layer 22 e, the illustrated LED emits light exclusively from the side surfaces of the light emitting layer 22 f as exemplified by the dashed arrows.

[0021]FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the LED 22, which includes a bottom light absorbing layer 22 h, a light reflecting layer 22 i overlying the bottom light absorbing layer 22 h, a light emitting layer 22 j overlying the light reflecting layer 22 i, and a top light reflecting layer 22 k overlying the light emitting layer 22 j. Due to the light absorbing nature of the light absorbing layer 22 h and the light reflecting nature of the light reflecting layers 22 i and 22 k, the illustrated LED emits light exclusively from the side surfaces of the light emitting layer 22 j as exemplified by the dashed arrows.

[0022]FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the LED 22, which includes a bottom light absorbing layer 22 l, a light emitting layer 22 m overlying the bottom light absorbing layer 22 l, a light transmitting layer 22 n overlying the light emitting layer 22 m, and a top light reflecting layer 22 o overlying the light transmitting layer 22 n. Due to the light absorbing nature of the light absorbing layer 221 and the light reflecting nature of the light reflecting layer 22 o, the illustrated LED emits light exclusively from the side surfaces of the light emitting layer 22 m and the light transmitting layer 22 n as exemplified by the dashed arrows.

[0023]FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the LED 22, which includes a bottom light absorbing layer 22 p, a light transmitting layer 22 q overlying the bottom light absorbing layer 22 p, a light emitting layer 22 r overlying the light transmitting layer 22 q, a light transmitting layer 22 s overlying the light emitting layer 22 r, and a top light reflecting layer 22 t overlying the light transmitting layer 22 s. Due to the light absorbing nature of the light absorbing layer 22 p and the light reflecting nature of the light reflecting layer 22 t, the illustrated LED emits light exclusively from the side surfaces of the light emitting layer 22 r and the light transmitting layers 22 q and 22 s as exemplified by the dashed arrows.

[0024]FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the LED 22, which includes a bottom light absorbing layer 22 u, a light reflecting layer 22 v overlying the bottom light absorbing layer 22 u, a light emitting layer 22 w overlying the light reflecting layer 22 v, a light transmitting layer 22 x overlying the light emitting layer 22 w, and a top light reflecting layer 22 y overlying the light transmitting layer 22 x. Due to the light absorbing nature of the light absorbing layer 22 u and the light reflecting nature of the light reflecting layers 22 v and 22 y, the illustrated LED emits light exclusively from the side surfaces of the light emitting layer 22 w and the light transmitting layer 22 x as exemplified by the dashed arrows.

[0025] From the preceding description of the reflector 21 and the LED 22, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the number of operational embodiments of a light source employing reflector 21 and LED 22 is essentially limitless. FIG. 9 illustrates one of the operational embodiments of a light source 20 in accordance with the present invention. In addition to the reflector 21, the LED 22 and the platform 23, the light source 20 includes an electrical connector 24. The electrical connector 24 includes conventional components (not shown) for communicating drive signals to the LED 22 from a conventional LED driver (not shown). For embodiments of the LED 22 employing a top light reflecting layer (e.g., light reflecting layer 22 k illustrated in FIG. 5), the top light reflecting layer is additionally utilized as a bond pad for an additional electrical connection to the LED driver. The reflector 21, the LED 22 and the platform 23 are conventionally encapsulated within a transmitting epoxy 25.

[0026] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

We claim:
 1. A light source, comprising: a light emitting diode having one or more side surfaces, said light emitting diode operable to emit light exclusively from at least one of said one or more side surfaces; a reflector having a parabolic reflective surface operable to collimate any portion of the light reflecting from said parabolic reflective surface; and a platform connected to said parabolic reflective surface, said platform for supporting said light emitting diode.
 2. The light source of claim 1, wherein said light emitting diode includes at least one light emitting layer; and wherein said platform provides support for centering said at least one light emitting layer on a focus point of said parabolic reflective surface.
 3. The light source of claim 1, wherein said light emitting diode includes: a first light absorbing layer; a light emitting layer overlying said first light absorbing layer; and a second light absorbing layer overlying said light emitting layer.
 4. The light source of claim 3, wherein said light emitting layer is centered on a focus point of said parabolic reflective surface.
 5. The light source of claim 1, wherein said light emitting diode includes: a first light absorbing layer; a light reflecting layer overlying said first light absorbing layer; a light emitting layer overlying said light reflecting layer; and a second light absorbing layer overlying said light emitting layer.
 6. The light source of claim 5, wherein said light emitting layer is centered on a focus point of said parabolic reflective surface.
 7. The light source of claim 1, wherein said light emitting diode includes: a light absorbing layer; a first light reflecting layer overlying said light absorbing layer; a light emitting layer overlying said first light reflecting layer; and a second light reflecting layer overlying said light emitting layer.
 8. The light source of claim 7, wherein said light emitting layer is centered on a focus point of said parabolic reflective surface.
 9. The light source of claim 1, wherein said light emitting diode includes: a light absorbing layer; a light emitting layer overlying said light absorbing layer; a light transmitting layer overlying said light emitting layer; and a light reflecting layer overlying said light transmitting layer.
 10. The light source of claim 9, wherein said light emitting layer is centered on a focus point of said parabolic reflective surface.
 11. The light source of claim 1, wherein said light emitting diode includes: a light absorbing layer; a first light transmitting layer overlying said light absorbing layer; a light emitting layer overlying said first light transmitting layer; a second light transmitting layer overlying said light emitting layer; and a light reflecting layer overlying said second light transmitting layer.
 12. The light source of claim 11, wherein said light emitting layer is centered on a focus point of said parabolic reflective surface.
 13. The light source of claim 1, wherein said light emitting diode includes: a light absorbing layer; a first light reflecting layer overlying said light absorbing layer; a light emitting layer overlying said first light reflecting layer; a light transmitting layer overlying said light emitting layer; and a second light reflecting layer overlying said light transmitting layer.
 14. The light source of claim 13, wherein said light emitting layer is centered on a focus point of said parabolic reflective surface.
 15. A light source, comprising: a light emitting diode having one or more side surfaces, said light emitting diode including means for emitting light exclusively from at least one of the one or more side surfaces; and a reflector including means for collimating any portion of the light reflecting from said reflector.
 16. The light source of claim 15, further comprising: a platform for centering said emitting light means of said light emitting diode on a focus point of said parabolic reflective surface.
 17. A light source, comprising: a light emitting diode having one or more side surfaces, said light emitting diode operable to emit light exclusively from at least one of said one or more side surfaces; and a reflector having a parabolic reflective surface operable to collimate any portion of the light reflecting from said parabolic reflective surface.
 18. The light source of claim 17, further comprising: a platform upwardly extending from a base of said parabolic reflective surface, said platform for supporting said light emitting diode.
 19. The light source of claim 18, wherein said light emitting diode includes at least one light emitting layer centered on a focus point of said parabolic reflective surface. 